Alabama NFL roundup: Washington Redskins win behind 'Alabama Wall'

In their first NFL start together, former Alabama teammates Jonathan Allen and Da'Ron Payne didn't record gaudy individual statistics, but the Washington Redskins liked the results their defensive registered behind the "Alabama Wall."

Washington used the 17th selection in the 2017 NFL Draft on Allen and installed him at defensive end. But a foot injury ended Allen's rookie season after five games, and the Redskins finished with the NFL worst rushing defense in 2017.

Washington used the 13th selection in the 2018 NFL Draft on Payne and installed the former Shades Valley High School standout at nose tackle.

With two-thirds of their defensive front from the Crimson Tide, the Redskins opened their 2018 season on Sunday with a 24-6 road victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Payne made three tackles in his first NFL game, and Allen had one tackle and two quarterback hits in his first regular-season action since Oct. 15.

The Washington defense held Arizona to 68 rushing yards, their best showing since the third game of Allen's career last year, while limiting Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford to 153 passing yards. The Redskins pitched a shutout until 5:47 left in the game and held an opponent to single-digit scoring for the first time since Nov. 18, 2012 -- a span of 87 regular-season games.

Washington's defense also got a contribution from another former Alabama standout. Outside linebacker Ryan Anderson (Daphne) recorded the first sack of his career on Sunday against Arizona. Anderson joined the Redskins in the second round of last year's draft.

Anderson also contributed on offense. He lined up at fullback on Adrian Peterson's 1-yard touchdown plunge as Washington took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.

Allen, Anderson and Payne were among the 33 former Alabama players who got on the field during the first Sunday of the NFL's 2018 season.

Other former Alabama players who started on Sunday included:

Right offensive tackle Andre Smith (Huffman) of the Cardinals against the Redskins. Smith left the game in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury.

Right cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover) and middle linebacker C.J. Mosley (Theodore) of the Baltimore Ravens in a 47-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Mosley made a team-leading five tackles, and Humphrey had two tackles and broke up four passes.

Good team win! Loyal fans to come out in the pouring rain and cold and support [?]

Safety Eddie Jackson of the Chicago Bears made two tackles in a 24-23 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Left cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (Gadsden City) of the Cincinnati Bengals made three tackles and broke up three passes in a 34-23 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix of the Packers made seven tackles against the Bears.

Safety Kareem Jackson of the Houston Texans made a team-leading eight tackles and forced two fumbles in a 27-20 loss to the New England Patriots.

Center Ryan Kelly of the Colts against the Bengals.

Nose tackle Marcell Dareus (Huffman), safety Ronnie Harrison and left offensive tackle Cam Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 20-15 victory over the New York Giants. Dareus made five tackles, and Harrison, who started as a fifth defensive back in his first NFL game, had two tackles on defense and another on special teams.

Right inside linebacker Reggie Ragland (Bob Jones) of the Kansas City Chiefs made seven tackles in a 38-28 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Running back Kenyan Drake of the Miami Dolphins ran for 48 yards on 14 carries and caught three passes for 18 yards in a 27-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans. At 7 hours, eight minutes, the game was the longest in NFL history. It had two delays for lightning -- the first lasted 1:57 and the second 2:02.

Middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower of the Patriots made two tackles and recovered a fumble against the Texans in his first regular-season game since Oct. 22. Hightower made the recovery on Houston's first offensive snap on the season to put the Patriots on the Texans 19-yard line and set up the game's opening touchdown. Hightower had played in only five games in 2017 when a torn pectoral muscle ended his season.

Strong safety Landon Collins and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson of the Giants against the Jaguars. Each player made five tackles, and Collins also broke up a pass.

Left defensive tackle Jarran Reed of the Seattle Seahawks made six tackles and a quarterback hit in a 27-24 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Tight end O.J. Howard (Autauga Academy) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had receptions good for 19 and 35 yards in a 48-40 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Running back Derrick Henry of the Titans had 26 yards on 10 rushing attempts and a 5-yard reception against the Dolphins.

Other former Alabama players seeing action on Sunday included:

Ravens cornerback Anthony Averett, center Bradley Bozeman (Handley) and outside linebacker Tim Williams against the Bills. Williams recorded the first sack of his career. Averett made one tackle and broke up a pass. For Averett and Bozeman, the game marked their NFL debuts.

Bills wide receiver Robert Foster was thrown to twice against the Ravens, but he did not have a reception in his first NFL game.

Packers punter JK Scott averaged 48.0 yards on four punts against the Bears in his first NFL game. He had a long punt of 58 yards and had one stopped at the Chicago 14. But Chicago's Tarik Cohen also had a 42-yard punt return.

Jaguars long snapper Carson Tinker and running back T.J. Yeldon (Daphne) against the Giants. Yeldon had 51 yards on 14 rushing attempts and caught three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown. Yeldon caught a 1-yard TD pass as Jacksonville took a 13-3 lead with 2:42 left in the first half. Yeldon entered the game as Leonard Fournette's backup. But Fournette had to leave with a hamstring injury.

Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick made his NFL debut with six tackles and a pass broken up against the Titans.

Redskins inside linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton (Carver-Montgomery) and wide receiver Cam Sims against the Cardinals. Hamilton and Sims made their NFL debuts in the game, but Sims suffered an ankle injury that cut short his first appearance.

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The NFL's opening week concludes on Monday with the New York Jets visiting the Detroit Lions at 6:10 p.m. CDT and the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Oakland Raiders at 9:20. ESPN will televise both games.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.